Apparatus for applying tape



Jan. 14, L 5 LA BOMBARD T APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TAPE Filed Aug. 50,1965 Sheet of 5 llllllllllllllllllll llllllllllllllIIIImill!lllllllllllllllllllllIll-III! INVENTORS Raymond A. Labomborde 11%Leon E. La BOmbGId,decnsed By Mary La Bombard and Indian Head NufionolBank, Co-execufors PM M ATTORNEYS Jan. 14, 1969 LA BOMBARD ETAL3,421,963

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TAPE Sheet Filed Aug. 30, 1965 an- 1969 L. E. LABOMBARD ETAL 3,421,963

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TAPE Flled Aug. 30, 1965 Sheet Q of 5 Fig, 3e

Jan. 14, 1969 LA BOMBARD A 3,421,963

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TAPE Filed Aug. 30, 1965 Sheet 4 of 5 I77 SETPOINTER FOR APPROX. 9 I76\ I CUTTING POINT Jan. 14, 1969 L. ELLA BOMBARDIETAL 3,421,963

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TAPE Filed Aug. 30, 1965 Sheet 5 United StatesPatent 9 Claims This invention relates to improved apparatus for feedingand cutting a predetermined length of tape and applying the cut lengthalong a piece of work. The apparatus is especially designed to applystrips of tape along the seam of flat tubular box blanks which areadvancing individually and successively along a path.

In folding paper box machinery, the fiat box blanks are conventionallyfed individually from a stack of blanks along a horizontal path throughthe folding machine, the outer panels being overfolded over the innerpanels, and the free adjacent edges of the overfolded panels are joinedby glue, hot melt adhesives, staples, tape, or the like, to form a flattubular box. Machines for the purpose are well known, and the machineillustrated herein is the L B machine made by International Paper BoxMachine Company of Nashua, N.H., and shown and described in detail inthe following United States patents: No. 2,912,239, Nov. 10, 1959, to LaBombard; No. 2,949,066, Aug. 16, 1960, to La Bombard; No. 2,915,950,.Dec. 8, 1959, to La Bombard; :No. 3,039,372, June 19, 1962, to LaBombard; No. 2,931,277, Apr. 5, 1960, to La Bombard.

There are so many taping devices, or heads, in the prior art which areusually mounted at the end of the folding zone in the folding machine,in advance of the squaring up or stacking zones, but :known devices havedisadvantages especially when the machine is operated at the high speedsdemanded by the trade. For example, some taping heads apply the tape tothe box, and the advancing box pulls on the tape with possibility oftape fracture, some feed the tape intermittently with a repeated openingand closing of the tape feed nip rolls, and, in most of the tapin-gheads of which -I am aware, the cutter knife forms a temporary barrierto the advance of the tape while approaching toward, cutting, andretracting from the tape.

In this invention, the above disadvantages are avoided, and accuracte,high speed, application of correct lengths of tape accomplished, bycontinuously rotating a large diameter tape applicator roll at the speedof the blanks, continuously feeding the tape toward the applicator rollat a lesser predetermined speed, and automatically cutting the fed tape,in advance of the applicator roll, at predetermined intervals. For aparticular run of identical blanks, the taping head is adjusted to cutthe fed tape to a length exactly equal to the length of the blank seamand to feed the tape at the required speed, so that the cut strip willbe drawn away from the uncut tape by the applicator roll and applied onthe blanks with no back pull on the tape and with exact registration oneach successive blank. Since the tape is continuously advancing towardthe more rapidly rotating applicator roll at a predetermined lesserspeed, the cutting knife is arranged to advance with the tape at a speedequal to that of the fed tape while cutting off the strip, and then toretract outside the path of the tape, by riding on the top face withoutoffering any resistance to advance of the tape.

The principal, object of the invention therefore, is to provide a tapinghead which accurately applies a cut length of tape to blanks advancingindividually and successively along a path, with no back pull on thetape and with no piling up of the tape at the cutting knife.

3,421,963 Patented Jan. 14, 1969 Another object of the invention is toprovide tape applicator means in the form of a single large diameterroll, capable of carrying the full length of a cut strip of tape andapplying the strip to each blank exactly on the blank seam.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel movable cuttingknife in a taping head, the knife blade being tiltable to exert a cutagainst an anvil roll on its forward stroke, but to move its tip out ofthe feed path to ride on the advancing tape on its rearward, orretraction, stroke.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a large diametertape applicator roll serving as a combined article-feed, tape-carrier,and tape-applicator roll, there being spaced hold-down rolls forretaining a cut strip on the circumferential face of the roll and amoistening device mounted close to the tape application area of the faceto assure that the tape is still moist when applied.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such an applicatorroll with a groove, and to provide an end less pressure and stripperbelt in the groove, the belt and groove being on one side only to pressthe tape into firm adherence along one edge of the seam while leavingthe other side free to slide during the subsequent squaring up of thebox.

Other advantages and objects of the invention will be apparent from theclaims, the description of the drawings and from the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the apparatus of the invention, showing partsof the folding zone and squaring up zone of a typical paper box foldingmachine;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1, insection on line 2--2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation, similar to FIGURE 2, but from the oppositeside of the machine, showing the drive trains;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation, from the same sideof the machine as shown in FIGURE 2, showing the cutter means with theblade at the forward end of its forward cutting stroke and showing thetape feed nip closed and the cutter in operation;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, showing the cutter blade nearthe rearward end of its retraction stroke, and showing the tape feed nipopen and the cutter out of operation;

FIGURE 6 is a still further enlarged fragmentary view showing the cutterblade in various tilt positions; and

FIGURE 7 is a circuit diagram.

As shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3, the machine 24 is a typical paper boxfolding machine, which normally includes a blank feed zone, a foldingzone, a gluein-g zone, a squaring up zone, and a stacking zone. Only theend of the panel overfolding zone 25, is illustrated, the lower carrierbelts 26, driven pulleys 27, and driven shaft 28, advancing the fiatarticles 29 along the path, or paper line, 31, in the direction of thearrows. The driven shaft 32 carries folder belt pulleys 33 and 34 forfolder belts 35 and 36, the folder belts, lower carrier belts and uppercarrier belts (not shown) all being synchronized and driven in a Wellknown manner, shown and described especially in the above mentionedPatent No. 2,931,277. The flat articles, in the embodiment illustratedin that patent, and herein, are flat, tubular paper box blanks 37, theouter panels 38 and 39 having been overfolded inwardly to overlie theinner panels 41 and 42, and to bring their respective outer edges 43 and4 4 into abutting relation to form a seam 45. At the end of the foldingzone 25, the article advancing means 46 includes the lower carrier beltswhich support the flat blanks plus the frictional contact, on the upperfaces '47, of the upper folder belts, but, as explained in the abovepatent, No. 2,931,277, these belt speeds may not be the same becausevariation of belt speed is useful in combatting the effect of airresistance on the panels during overfolcling. The taping zone of machine24 is designated 19.

The taping head 50, of this invention, includes a combined article, orblank, feed, tape-carrier and tape-applying roll 51, mounted to rotateon bearings 52, carried by the driven folder belt pulley shaft 32. Theroll 51 may thus be drivingly rotated with a surface speed exactly equalto the speed of advance of the blanks 37 on carrier belts 26, regardlessof the speed of the folder belts. As best shown in FIGURE 3, roll 51 isdriven with its circumferential face 53 travelling in the direction ofadvance of the blanks at the tape applying area 54, where face 53engages the upper faces of the blanks, by gear 1 power train meansconsisting of gears 40, 55, 56, and 99, sprocket 99, chain 80, andsprocket 100, gears 57 and 58 to the Reeves-type variable speed unit 59,which also powers the shaft 28 of the lower carriers 26.

Taping head includes side frame pieces 61 and '62 mounted for lateraladjustment on a cross frame member 63, to permit the roll 51 to bealigned with the seams of blanks of various configurations.

Supported on the frame pieces 61 and 62 of taping head 50, are aplurality of hold-down rolls such as 64, preferably of Teflon, and eachhaving a spring 65 for spring loading the roller with predeterminedpressure against the circumferential face 53 of roll 51. The holddownrolls 64 are spaced circumferentially around face 53, to at leastpartially encircle the face and to extend from the tape receiving area66 to the tape applying area 54. The final set of hold-down rolls 64,located close to paper line 31, are carried by one or more detachablemembers 67 mounted on the centre support 68 for the rolls.

Where the tape to be applied is of the gummed type, requiring moisteningbefore application, the tape moistening means 70, consisting of asuitable water tank 71 with moistening roll 72, is preferably mountedclose to the paper line 31, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2, toassure that the applied tape is moist and has not dried out. The meansmay also be mounted on a frame cross bar 73, as shown in full lines inFIGURE 2, in which case the members 67 and rolls 64, occupy thepreferred position of the tank 71, to hold the tape strip on the roll 51until it is applied to the blanks.

The tape feeding means 75 of the invention includes a suitable tapesource, such as the supply roll 76, containing a continuous tape 77 ofany desired type, journalled to freely rotate on a shaft 78 carried byframe posts, such as 79. The tape 77 is guided through a suitable slacktake-up device not shown, or torsion brake means 81 may be applied tothe exterior of the roll for slack take-up purposes, as shown, the tapepassing through the tape feed nip 84 and the nip 85 to the tapereceiving area 66 of the roll 51. Suitable guides, or idler rolls, 86and 87, are provided to support the tape where necessary, the guide 87directing the tape into tangential engagement with the face 53 of roll51.

Tape feed nip 84, is formed by the driven roll 88, mounted on a shaft89, and serving as a backer, or bed, roll opposed by the undriven tapefeed roll 91. Tape feed roll 91 is mounted on eccentric bearings 92, sothat it is adjustable to vary the pinch, or clearance, at the nip inaccordance with the thickness of tape used. The bearings 92 aresupported on a shaft 93, and the inner races 94 of the bearings areconnected to an arm 95 having a spring 96 at the outer end thereof fornormally spring loading the feed roll 91 into a closed nip relation.One, or both, of the tape rolls 88 or 91 may have a knurled face, suchas 97, if desired.

The tape feed means 75 also includes a pair of rolls 101 and 102 formingthe nip 85, roll 102 being driven and mounted on eccentric bearings 103,similar to bearings 92, for adjustment of nip clearance.

The tape feed roll means includes roll drive means 104, for driving therolls 88 and 102, and for driving an anvil roll 105, at a predeterminedlesser speed than the speed of advance of the blanks and the surfacespeed of the face 53 of roll 51. Drive means 104 is powered by the shaft106 of variable speed drive 59 through knee action supported chains andsprockets 107, 108, 109, 110, and 111, sprocket 109 being journalled atthe junction of pivoted links 113 and 114, so that the head 50 may beraised and lowered in accordance with blank thickness. Shaft 116, drivenby sprocket 111, is connected by a train of gears 112 to rotate rolls88, 102, and 105, and thereby advance the tape 77 along the feed pathtoward the face of roll 51.

Tape cutting means 115 includes the knife arm 121, best shown in FIGURE6, the arm having a split clamp 117 mounted on the swing shaft 118 andhaving a cutter blade 119 with a cutting tip 120. The free end of arm121 has angularly disposed faces 12 2 and 123 meeting at the apex line124 for seating blade 119, there being a pin 125, slidable in a bracket126, and pressing on the centre of the blade by reason of leaf spring127. It will be seen that the blade 119 oscillates forwardly with thetape, and at the speed of travel of the tape, while supported by face123 in a plane radial to shaft 118 until the tip 120 pinch cuts the tapeat the point of tangency with the rotating anvil roll 105. The blade tip120, and the tape 77 continue forwardly at the same speed, while the cutlength 128 is drawn away more rapidly in a forward direction by the face53 of roll 51, since the tape strip 128 is no longer restrained byconnection to the tape supply. As shown in dotted lines, at the end ofits forward stroke, tip 120 is lifted out of the tape path, whereuponarm 121 oscillates rearwardly on the return stroke with tip 120 ridingon top of the continuously advancing tape. The friction, and forwardtravel, of the tape tilts the blade 119 so that its upper portionretracts into the recess formed by angular face 1 22, thereby permittingit to pass the tangent point without cutting. Spring 127 yields topermit the tilt, but restores the blade to its radial plane at the endof the rearward oscillatory stroke. The stroke of the knife ispreferably about 22, or 11 on each side of the cutting nip 129.

The cam mechanism 132 oscillates the arm 121 at predetermined speed, asshown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The clutch shaft 133, connected to the powertrain 134 by the clutch 135, rotates unidirectionally to turn theeccentric earn 136 to thereby actuate the yoke crank arm 137. Arm 137 ispivoted at 133 to the link 139, the other end of link 139 being pivotedon the cutter arm swing shaft 118, but not drivingly connected thereto.Link 139 carries a cam 141 having an inner cam path 142 with adepression 143 and an outer cam path 144 with a pair of protuberances145 and 146.

A bell crank pawl 147 is pivoted at 148 to cam 141, pawl 147 having aroller follower 149 at one end, which engages the inner cam path 142,and having the other end 151 arranged to engage a groove 152 in thecutter arm 121. It will be seen that in FIGURE 4 the end 151 of pawl 147is engaged in groove 152, so that the knife arm 121 is oscillatedforwardly to cut the tape, the follower 149 being within the depression143. However, in FIGURE 5, when a signal has been received that there isno oncoming blank, the follower 149 is no longer in. the depression 143and the end 151 of pawl 147 has been lifted out of groove 152 so that,while the clutch shaft continues to rotate, the pawl rides over theknife arm and does not cause it to oscillate and cut. The pawl 147 isreturned by spring 153 and the cutter arm is returned by the spring 154(FIGURE 3).

The machine of the invention, once set up to apply a particular lengthstrip of tape on each of a plurality of identical fiat tubular boxeswill continue to do so without adjustment for a complete run of boxes.However, in case of a misfeed in the feeding zone, there may be a spaceon the paper line not occupied by a box, and if a tape strip weresupplied as usual, it would fail to be picked off the applicator rolland would interfere with subsequent strips. Therefore, automaticactuation means 156, is provided to open the tape feed nip and deactuatethe cutter momentarily so long as one or more boxes are not sensed onthe paper line.

Means 156 includes a pair of solenoids 157 and 158, oppositely disposedwith a common armature 159, there being a member 160 pivoted to themachine at 162 and having one end pivoted at 163 to the armature 159.The other end 164 of member 160 includes a recess 165 in which a pin 166on cam 141 is received. In FIGURE 4 the solenoids 157 and 158 arede-energized. The member 160 and pin 166 are to the right, pawl 147 isin groove 152, the roller follower 167 of arm 95 mounted on feed rollshaft 93 is in closed feed nip position and the bell crank detent 169has its tip 170 in recess 165 to hold the parts in position.

In FIGURE the solenoid 158 has been energized to move the member 160 tothe left, thereby moving pin 166 and cam 141 to the position shown. Thiscauses pawl 147 to be lifted out of groove 152 to stop cutter action,and the protuberance 145 lifts follower 167 to open the tape feed nip tostop tape feeding action. The member 160 has lifted tip 170 of latchingdetent 169 out of recess 165 while the tip 172 of the oppositelydisposed latching detent 173 has dropped into recess 165 to hold theparts in deactivated position. A spring 174 connects detents 169 and 173to spring load the tips 170 and 172 toward recess 165.

Automatic actuation means 156 also includes a protuberance 176 on clutchshaft 133 which contacts the roller follower 177 of the armature 178 ofa normally open switch 179, with each revolution of the clutch shaft toclose a circuit. It also includes a normally closed switch 180 mountedat a predetermined spaced distance in advance of the taping zone 19 onthe paper line, or path, 31, of the flat articles advancing along thepath, the switch 180 having an armature 182 normally held down to closeswitch 180 by the individual successive articles traveling over thesame, and a switch 181 normally open in the presence of a blank. So longas armature 182 is held down by the presence of advancing articles, itkeeps open a circuit 183. However, in the absence of a blank on thepaper line 31, due to misfeed, the armature 182 closes the switch 181.When protuberance 176 then rotates to a position which moves armature178 to close switch 179, circuit 183 is closed. The closed, or non-feedcircuit 183 then includes the source of current 184, conductor 185, thecoil of solenoid 158, conductor 186, switch 181, armature 182, condnctor187, armature 178, and conductor 188 back to the source 184. Theenergization of solenoid 158 shifts the device to the non-tape feedposition of FIGURE 5.

When a blank is again present to actuate armature 182 to close switch180 and open switch 181, the feed circuit 190 is closed, which includessource 184, conductor 185, conductor 191, the coil of solenoid 157,conductor 192, switch 180, armature 182, conductor 187, armature 178,conductor 188, back to source 184. The energization of solenoid 157shifts the device to the tape feed position of FIGURE 4, so that it willfeed tape to each blank or box when protuberance 176 closes switch 179.

As shown in FIGURE 1, each flat tubular box, whether the outer edges 43and 44 are abutting or Overlapping, has a tape strip 128 of the exactlength desired, adhered along both sides of the seam 45 as the boxleaves the taping zone 19 to enter the squaring-up and stacking zone191. The squaring-up of the box will be fruit-less if the tape 128 hasadhered to the overfolded panels on both sides of the seam, since thebox might yield for squaring and then return to its unsquared condition.

In this invention, combined tape stripper and tape pressure means 192 istherefore provided. Means 192 comprises an annular groove 193 in oneside of the face 53 of the roll 51, an idler lroll 194 aligned withgroove 193, and an endless belt 195 trained around the roll 194 and thegroove 193. The belt 195 assures that each successive tape length 128will be stripped from the face 53 while at the same time applyingadherance pressure only to the side 196 of the tape overlying one sideof the seam 45. The other side 197 of the tape strip 128 is thus not yetadhered as the box passes through the squaring-up mechanism 198 and thepanels of the box may be still moved into squared-up condition bysliding with relation to said tape. Once squared up, the other,unadhered side 197 of the tape becomes adhered to the other side of theseam of the box under the pressure of stacking in the stacking zone.

I claim:

1. A machine for applying a predetermined length of tape to the seam ofeach of a plurality of fiat articles, said machine comprising:

means for advancing said fiat articles individually and successivelyalong a path through said machine at a predetermined speed, said pathincluding a taping zone;

tape applying means in said taping zone, said means including a combinedarticle-feet, tape-carrier, and tape-applicator roll rotating at asurface speed equal to the speed of advance of said articles, thecircumferential face of said roll being arranged to receive a strip oftape and apply the said strip upon each fiat article fed thereby alongsaid path;

tape feeding means in said taping zone, said means including a tape feedroll, opposed by a backer roll, and movable toward and away therefrom toopen and close a tape feed nip therebetween, at least one of said rollsrotating at a predetermined speed to feed tape onto said circumferentialface when said tape feed nip is closed;

tape cutting means, mounted in said taping zone, be-

tween said tape feed means and said tape applying means, said cuttingmeans including an oscillatably mounted knife, opposed by an anvil roll,to form a tape cutting nip therebetween, and mechanism oscillating saidknife at a predetermined speed to advance with tape fed through saidcutting nip at equal speed therewith, cut said tape at the point oftangency with said anvil roll, and retract to its original position,thereby cutting successive tape strips of said predetermined length;

and automatic actuation means including sensing mechanism mounted alongsaid path in advance of said zone to sense the presence of each oncomingarticle, and mechanism responsive to said sensing mechanism normallymaintaining said tape feed nip closed, but opening said tape feed nipwhen no article is sensed on said path, to prevent undesired feed oftape while said machine is in operation.

2. A machine as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said tape applying means is a single roll having a circumference atleast equal to the maximum length of tape to be applied to said articlesfor supporting and carrying each cut strip in its entirety, and saidroll is at least partially encircled by a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced hold-down rolls for retaining each cut strip on saidcircumferential face from tape feed to tape application.

3. A machine as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said tape feeding means includes a solenoid for moving said tape feedroll into open nip relation with said backer roll;

and said automatic actuation means includes a switch,

constituting said sensing mechanism and an electric circuit includingsaid switch, said solenoid, and a source of current;

whereby said solenoid is energized, and said feed roll retracted unlesssaid switch is kept open by oncoming flat articles.

4. A machine as specified in claim 3, wherein:

said tape cutting means includes mechanism operably connected to saidtape feeding means and responsive to said automatic actuation means tohalt the oscillation of said knife when said feed nip is opened.

5. A machine as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said cutting means includes tilt mechanism supporting said knife, saidmechanism including a blade carrier arm having a blade groove withangularly disposed faces, a cutter blade in said groove, and a springloaded pin pressing the central portion of said blade toward the apexline of said angular faces;

whereby said blade is rigidly backed by one of said faces on its cuttingstroke but retracts against the other said face on its return stroke tolift the tip of said blade;

the tip of said blade riding on the continuously fed tape on said returnstroke without cutting the same or offering resistance to the advancethereof.

6. A machine as specified in claim 1, plus:

tape moistening means in said taping zone, said means including a watertank mounted on said machine proximate the periphery of said combinedarticlefeed, tape-carrier and tape-applicator roll, and close to thepath of the articles fed thereby, said tank having a moistening rollerin tangential engagement with the exterior face of tape carried on saidroll to moisten the same just before application of said tape on saidarticles.

7. A machine as specified in claim 1, plus an annular groove on one sideof the circumferential face of said combined article-feed, tape-carrierand tape-applicator roll;

an idler roll aligned therewith;

and an endless belt trained around said rolls and seated in said groove;

said belt stripping said tape from said circumferential face whilepressing down on one side of said tape to adhere said side to one sideof a scam in said flat articles while leaving the other side thereofunadhered to slide during subsequent squaring up operations.

8. In a taping head of the type having means for feeding tape from anendless tape supply and applying the tape along the seams of a pluralityof flat tubular box blanks advancing individually and successively alonga path, the combination of:

a combined article-feed, tape-carrier and tape-applicator roll having acircumferential face at least equal in length to the maximum length oftape to be applied thereby, said roll being opposed by backer roll meansto form an article feed nip on said path and said roll being mounted toreceive tape on said face, carry said tape thereon and apply said tapeto each said blank passing through said nip;

drive means connected to said roll, for rotating said 8 face at asurface speed equal to the speed of advance of said blanks;

a plurality of hold-down rolls mounted on said head to partiallyencircle said roll face and hold down a strip carried on said face;

tape feeding means on said head continuously feeding tape from a tapesupply onto the face of said roll at a speed less than the said surfacespeed of said face; and

tape cutting means on said head automatically cutting the tape being fedby said tape feeding means, into strips of predetermined length, inadvance of said face, said means including a knife and mechanismoperably connected to said drive means to advance said knife with saidfed tape at the speed of the tape to cut said tape.

9. In a taping head for applying tape in controlled lengths to a movingpiece of work, the combination of:

tape applying means, including an applicator roll continuously revolvingwith the circumferential face thereof travelling at a surface speedequal to the speed of advance of said moving piece of work for applyinga length of tape on said work, free of pull on said tape;

tape feeding means continuously feeding tape along a feed path towardthe circumferential face of said roll for deposit thereon, at apredetermined lesser speed than the surface speed of said face; and

tape cutting means, in advance of said applicator roll and operable onthe tape being fed thereto by said feeding means, said means includingan oscillatable cutter and means oscillating said cutter, at apredetermined speed, synchronized with said tape applying means and saidtape feeding means, to advance with said tape at equal speed, cut saidtape, and retract outside the feed path of said tape;

whereby said cutter does not interfere with the continuous feed of saidtape.

References Cited EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

D. J. FRITSCH, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

1. A MACHINE FOR APPLYING A PREDETERMINED LENGTH OF TAPE TO THE SEAM OFEACH OF A PLURALITY OF FLAT ARTICLES, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING: MEANS FORADVANCING SAID FLAT ARTICLES INDIVIDUALLY AND SUCCESSIVELY ALONG A PATHTHROUGH SAID MACHINE AT A PREDETERMINED SPEED, SAID PATH INCLUDING ATAPING ZONE; TAPE APPLYING MEANS IN SAID TAPING ZONE, SAID MEANSINCLUDING A COMBINED ARTICLE-FEED, TAPE-CARRIER, AND TAPE-APPLICATORROLL ROTATING AT A SURFACE SPEED EQUAL TO THE SPEED OF ADVANCE OF SAIDARTICLES, THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL FACE OF SAID ROLL BEING ARRANGED TORECEIVE A STRIP OF TAPE AND APPLY THE SAID STRIP UPON EACH FLAT ARTICLEFED THEREBY ALONG SAID PATH; TAPE FEEDING MEANS IN SAID TAPING ZONE,SAID MEANS INCLUDING A TAPE FEED ROLL, OPPOSED BY A BACKER ROLL, ANDMOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY THEREFROM TO OPEN AND CLOSE A TAPE FEED NIPTHEREBETWEEN, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ROLLS ROTATING AT A PREDETERMINEDSPEED TO FEED TAPE ONTO SAID CIRCUMFERENTIAL FACE WHEN SAID TAPE FEEDNIP IS CLOSED;